Turkish Embassy in London issues statement on Indefinite Leave to Remain delays

By Alpaslan Düven-London

The Turkish Embassy in London has released a statement addressing growing concerns over delays affecting Turkish nationals applying for Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR) in the United Kingdom.

According to the Embassy, a significant number of Turkish citizens who have completed their lawful residence period and applied for ILR are currently facing prolonged uncertainty. In many cases, the official six-month processing timeframe set by UK authorities has been exceeded. These delays are reportedly having a negative impact on applicants’ ability to travel, meet family obligations, and manage business commitments.

The Embassy emphasized that the issue has been consistently raised with UK authorities at all levels. It noted that efforts are ongoing to highlight the challenges faced by applicants and to push for faster and more transparent processing.

In its statement, the Embassy said:

“Recent delays in the assessment of Indefinite Leave to Remain applications in the United Kingdom are being closely and carefully monitored. Our expectations are regularly communicated to the relevant UK authorities at all levels, and every effort is being made to prevent further hardship for our citizens.

It has been observed that many of our citizens, particularly those who have completed five years of lawful residence, are waiting beyond the standard six-month processing period. These delays are adversely affecting travel freedom, family responsibilities, and commercial obligations. The lack of sufficient communication regarding the status of applications is further increasing uncertainty.

In this context, delays affecting applicants under the Ankara Agreement (ECAA) category are being followed with particular attention. Feedback received from our citizens is being closely monitored by our Embassy, and we will continue to urge both UK and Turkish counterparts to ensure that applications are concluded as swiftly as possible and that the process becomes more transparent and predictable.”

The Embassy reiterated its commitment to advocating on behalf of Turkish nationals and ensuring their concerns remain a priority in discussions with both British and Turkish authorities.